ULFA mediators meet NSA, peace process may resume soon

New Delhi, Nov 13 (UNI) In a clear indication that peace effort with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has not hit the road block, the Centre today assured the mediators of the outlawed outfit that it was open to resumption of peace process if ULFA comes forward to give a "solid" letter confirming the date of direct talks between them.

It is not clear if the Centre today insisted only on a confirmed date from ULFA for talks, withdrawing the other conditions it had put earlier. At the third round of talks held a few months ago, the Centre insisted on a formal communique from ULFA stating its willingness to come for a direct talk and specify the composition of the team and exact date for such a talk, besides an undertaking that the delegation would comprise of only top leaders of the outfit.

Nearly 40 days after the Indian security forces resumed counter-insurgency operations against ULFA, ULFA mediators Indira Goswami and Rebati Phukhan held nearly 90-minute long discussion with National Security Advisor M K Narayanan at the South Block in a fresh bid to pave the way for direct peace talks between the Centre and ULFA.

Assamese writer Goswami and ULFA Commander-in-Chief Paresh Barua's childhood friend Phukhan are the members of the 11-member People's Consultative Group (PCG) appointed by ULFA for negotiations with the government.

After the meeting, Ms Goswami said there was no basis in the reports that the peace efforts with ULFA had hit the road block. "We are working hard with the Centre and ULFA for the peace process. We cannot make Asom a battlefield. People there want peace," She said.

Asked if the Centre was still insisting on all the conditions put earlier for direct talks with ULFA, She said :Only the date they want...they want a letter specifying the date of direct talks..." Ms Goswami, who will shift permanently to Guwahati from Delhi within a week, said Mr Narayanan wanted a "solid" letter from ULFA confirming the date and timing of a possible discussion with the government in Delhi.

"We are hopeful of such a letter being given to the government by ULFA," she said.

"We are working on the modalities. We are working very very hard to put the peace process in place," Mr Phukhan said, adding that he could not divulge what actually transpired in the meeting. "We discussed something very sensitive." More UNI SH SB VV2107